To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) june 1 — International Defense Logistics and Support 2012 Conference, Hotel Le Plaza, Brussels, Belgium. For more information go to www.eventseye.com/fairs/f-international-defence-logistics-and-support-9… june 5 - 6 — AUSA ILW Mission Command Symposium, "Mission Command and The Network," Marriott Kansas City Downtown, Kansas City, MO. For more information go to www.ausa.org
The results of Aviation Week’s 2012 Top-Performing Companies (TPC) study are providing fresh evidence that downturns in U.S. and European defense spending are starting to hit contractors. BAE Systems, Finmeccanica, General Dynamics, L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon all saw their TPC scores decline from last year. And the strong gains in operational efficiency made by defense primes during the past decade are showing tentative signs of weakening.
In observance of the U.S. Memorial Day holiday, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report will not publish an issue on May 29. The next issue will be dated May 30. Subscribers to the Aviation Week Intelligence Network can visit www.aviationweek.com/awin for continuous news updates.
MOSCOW — The first Tupolev Tu-214R reconnaissance aircraft is now in flight trials. The aircraft has been spotted at the Kazan-based KAPO facility, a subsidiary of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).
BMD SLUMP: The ballistic missile defense market, which earned revenues of $9.45 billion in 2010, is expected to drop over the next few years, reaching $8.44 billion in 2016, according to consultancy Frost & Sullivan. The market is expected to recover by 2020, the group says. “Procurement is now focused on improved ‘kill packages,’ radar modifications, and improved missiles,” Frost & Sullivan analyst Wayne Plucker says. “In general, the market is moving closer to a sustainment model, but true sustainment can be achieved only after the next six to seven years.”
U.S. Navy officials say they remain committed to deploying the first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS-1), the USS Freedom, to Singapore as a warship. But at the same time, service officials and other government supporters of the vessel say it should really be viewed as an R&D prototype shedding light on what design changes will be needed for the rest of the class.
In observance of the U.S. Memorial Day holiday, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report will not publish an issue on May 29. Subscribers to the Aviation Week Intelligence Network can visit www.aviationweek.com/awin for continuous news updates.
HOUSTON — The SpaceX Dragon, working flawlessly, sailed 1.5 mi. below the International Space Station (ISS) early May 24, clearing the way for the first U.S. commercial delivery of cargo to the orbiting laboratory.
NEW DELHI — India has finally signed a contract to buy a fleet of 75 Swiss Pilatus PC-7 MK II turboprop aircraft to conduct initial training for its air force pilots. The contract, which is worth more than 500 million Swiss francs ($520 million) also includes an integrated, ground-based training system and a comprehensive logistics support package.
The loitering munition market kicked into high gear last year with the award in September of an initial $4.9 million Army order for AeroVironment Switchblade tube-launched lethal small UASs.
The Senate Armed Services Committee on May 24 passed a defense policy bill authorizing the Pentagon to spend $631.4 billion in fiscal 2013 that follows the House in putting a hold on the U.S. Air Force’s plans to scale back the Air National Guard. “We rejected the Air Force plan, and fully funded the equipment and personnel,” committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) told reporters in a press conference after the committee voted unanimously to approve the legislation.
After months of bedeviling technical challenges and scaling back the scope of work on the Blue Devil II airship project, the U.S. Air Force has finally shot the program down. The service has notified prime contractor MAV6 — a fledgling company managed by two retired general officers — that it must cease work on the program owing to poor performance. Originally envisioned for quick deployment to Afghanistan in February, 18 months after contract award, the program had yet to reach first flight.
U.S. officials are voicing worries about the involvement of Chinese civilian telecommunications companies in military and information warfare programs. Congress has questioned the relationship between Huawei Technologies — which has twice been blocked from buying into U.S. telecommunications companies — and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the ministry of state security.
LONDON — BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Babcock have received a £350 million ($553 million) contract from the U.K. Defense Ministry to press ahead with development of a new nuclear-powered submarine armed with Trident ballistic missiles. London expects the contract to allow the first submarine to replace the Vanguard class to be delivered in 2028. A final decision on building it is not expected to be taken until 2016.
TOULOUSE — With its initial wave of A330-based tankers delivered and the first A400M customer handover nearing, Airbus Military is turning its focus to securing new orders. The A400M is being shown to more customers and talks will begin before year’s end with 10 potential buyers, says Domingo Urena, the head of Airbus Military. But some of those deals will take three-four years to materialize, he acknowledges. The A400M should achieve its civil type certification in July, with military certification to follow in August or September.
MOTOR RUNNING: Alliant Techsystems plans to test a GEM-60 solid rocket motor on May 31 at its test facility in Promontory, Utah. The 60-in.-dia. graphite epoxy motor (GEM) is designed to provide additional thrust to United Launch Alliance Delta IV medium rockets. The 90-sec. “cold motor” test, designed to evaluate performance at low temperatures, will see the motor produce a maximum thrust of 270,000 lb. Test objectives include verification of the motor’s new vectorable nozzle and its insulation.
SPACE SPENDING: As SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft makes its way toward its first rendezvous with the International Space Station, the Sunlight Reporting Group has tallied up the money the Hawthorne, Calif.-based company has spread around on Capitol Hill. SpaceX has spent $4 million lobbying Congress and given more than $800,000 in political contributions since its founding a decade go, the group says. Founder Elon Musk has donated $35,800 to President Barack Obama’s re-election committee, $15,000 to the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee and $5,000 to Sen.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) is zeroing in on an advanced engine technology program to ensure that it is not used to resurrect the “second” engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that Congress killed last year.
